Sorting-machine.



' PatentedJune 26,1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

G. W. COX, In.' somma MACHINE.'

APPLICATION FILED AUG.I'6, I9I5.

G. w. cox,1.'

somma MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG.I6| 1915.

1,231,334. y Patenten@ 26,1917.

' 5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

G. W. COX, Jn.

SORTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION minimale. 1915.

1,28 1, 334. Patented June 26, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

In/vento@ www, @M

-G.'W. COX, Jn.

Y SURTING MACHINE. MlucATlou FILED AUG.16. 1915.

1,231,334. PatentedJune-26, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

. Jig;

' G. W. COX, 1R.

SORTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AuG.I6. |915.

1,231,334. Patented June 26,1917.

, 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

92C 925 O2 92d www A ayWZzx. (Zt 296m I UNirED sTATEs lPATEiSTT onirica..

GEonGE w. cox, :riaL or KENSINGTON, MARYLAND. Y

SOBTING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 26, 1917',

Application ledAuguSt 16, 1915. Serial No. 45,740.

To all whom it may concern.'v`

. Be it known that I, GEORGE W. (.lqx, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Kensington, in the county of'Montgomery and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements' in Sorting-Machines, of which the following i's a specification. A

This invention pertains to means for sorting papers, such as checks, sales slips,

vouchers, and analogous articles, and it has for its objects` among others to provide a simple and efficient. machine for this purpose by means of which the checks, vouchers, or other papers or cards may be rapidly and accurately sorted by their serial numbers, -symbols or other indicia or designating symbols.

It is a Well known fact that in many l oiiices, for instance, Where large numbers ofr and arranged according to their serial num* bers. In departmental stores and other places the sales slips and papers of like character are not only designated by serial number, butin many instances are further designated by class or book number andl in such cases it is necessary to not onlysrt .the sales slips or other papers according to serial number, but the sales slips or other papers ofeach separate class or order. For instance, books numbered 1 2, 3, etc., have to be separated in groups,rtiiat is, al1 of the sales slips or other papers of book 1 for instance, must be sorted by themselves, and

all the sales slips or other papers of, say, book 2 sorted by themselves, and so on.

My invention has for its objects broadly to provide a machine by which these various sortings may be quickly and accurately accomplished, all "by one and the same mal chine, by one and the samev operator, theY construction being such as to not require skilled labor in its manipulation.I t

It will thus be seen that the device non7 to be described is particularly vvell adapted -for use in banks, railroad oiiices, departmental stores, in the oliices of auditors, and in fact anywhere and everywhere that there is occasion to sort and classify papers of this general character.

The invention in its broad sense contemplates various forms of devices for the accomplishment of the desired end, actuated by foot or hand power, electrically, orotherwise, as may be found most expedient and as may be found more desirable in accordance with the conditions under Which it is to be operated. The machine may be equipped for operation on a large or small scale to accommodate the various requirementsI and the necessities of the oiice in Which it is to be used.

'It combines the advantages of being accurate, rapid, simple in its structure, labor saving, and economical in the consumption of power and space required. Furthermore, by the employment of my machine multiple handling of the papers is obviated. In hand` sorting the papers all have to be handled a multiplicity of times, three or more, the units in their pile, the tens in their pile, and the hundreds in their pile, and so on,

and then these various piles again handled finally toplace the papers all in their proper arrangement from l up. l

In some instances, it may be desirable to sort all of the vouchers, sales slips, or other papers, say ofv one department of a depart mental store or thelike by themselves, from the others, Without arranging such slips or the like according to serial number. This machine is equally Well adapted for this purpose.

Other objectsl and advantages of the invention will 'hereinafter appear` and the vnovel features thereof Will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

rlfhe generic principle ofthe invention is capable of embodiment in a ,variety of forms, some only of Which are herein illus.- trated, those hereinshown being what I at the present time consider preferable. It Will be evident, however, that While the forms herein disclosed and now to be described arev what I at the present time consider preferable, the same are subject to changes, variations and modiiications in ydctails, proportion of parts, relative arrangement, etc and I, therefore, do' not Wish to be restricted in the appended claims to the particular construction and arrangement of llt parts, etc., as herein disclosed, but reserveI the right to make such changes, variations,

and modifications as come properly within the scope of the protection prayed.`

The invention in its preferred forms is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the numerals of `reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, and in whichw` Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine constructed in accordance with vmy present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof with parts in section. l

Fig. 2a is aperspective detail showing'a foot operated form.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical detail section as on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 1 is an enlarged longitudinal section through one of the receiversremoved.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail in elevation with portions in section, showfingthe clutch mechanism hereinafter more fully described.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 7 lis a top plan with a portion in section, of a portion of the receiver actuating mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a perspective detail on an enlarged scale of the receiver elevating rack.

Fig. 9 is a detail in side elevation with a portion in section, showing the movable pin which limits the upward movement ofthe receiver.

Fig. 10 is a detail in elevation, with portions broken away and parts in section, of a portion of the receiver actuating and stop mechanism.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of one of the nest of keys.

Fig. 12 is a face view of a portion of the member with its openings for coperation with the pins that limit the upward vertical movement of the receiver.

Fig. 13 illustrates, diagrammatically, with portions in section, an electrically operated device of the general character hereinbefore referred to.

Like numerals of reference indicatevlike parts throughout the several views.

In carrying out my invention, I\propose to make machines of varying capacities, operable by any desired type of power, and it is to be understood that electrical means may be substituted for any or all of such actuating parts as are herein otherwise described. For instance, in the present instance, I have chosen to show oscillating receivers as adapted to be actuated by mechanical means, but it is evident that electrical Adevices may sometimes be employed for this purpose if found preferable. ThiS will, in a great measure, depend upon the capacity of the machine, and such electrical devices may or may not be employed, as may be found most expedient. The following description as based upon the illustrations in the present drawings will be conned mostly to the particular construction of the different forms herein illustrated, but

without any intent of limiting the invention to these particular forms further than the mechanism wherein resides the generic idea soon to be made clear.

Referring to such drawings, 1 designates a base or support for the operating mecha* nism. This base Iraybe of any required form and size dependent uponthe character of the machine to be supported thereupon.

This base lvmay support the motors 2 and 3, or in some instances a single motor may sufiice if properly connected up, as will be apparent as the description proceeds. In the present instance the.motor 3 is shown as adapted to impart continuous rotary movement by means of the belt 4 to a feed roller 5, which with its coperating feed roller 6 serves to feed the check, sales slip, or other paper placed upon the supporting table 7 into the guide 8, by which it is'directed intov the proper. compartment of the receiver,. as will be` made'.` clear as the description proceeds. A

The vmotor 2, by means of belt 9 which passes around a' pulley 10 on a shaft 11, serves to impart rotary motion to the eccentric 12 on said shaft 11, which eccentric is designed, at predetermined periods, to bear upon the upper face of the check, sales slip, or other paper upon the table 7, andforce the same forward into the space between the-feed rollers 5 and 6.- The operation of the eccentric feed member 12 is so timed byI reason of the relative proportions of the pulley 10 and the pulley on the shaft 13 of the motor 2 as to give sufficient time for the receiver, soon to be described, to reach `a proper position before the check, sales slip, or other paper is fed forward.

On the shaft 13 of the motor 2 is a friction pulley 14.- which imparts motion to a` friction pulley 15 on a shaft 1 6, upon which latter shaft is a pulley 17 around which passes a belt 18 which passes around a pulley 19 on a shaft '20 mounted in suitable bearings 21 and carryin a drum 22 on which is designed to be wou, d a cord, cable, or other ligament 23, which passes upward ove'r a pulley 24 mounted at the upper end of the upright 25.rising from the base, and

over a pulley 26 on the outer end of an arm 27 supported from said upright 25, the end of said cord or ligament 23 being designed to be connected with some suitable means, as shown at 28, on the cross bar 29 of the elevator rack 30 whereby the latter, with its appropriate receiver, may be elevated when required.

11,a31,es4

may employ one, two, three, or more, re-

ceivers, according to/the desired capacity of the machine and the purpose,4 for which it is to be used. In small machines I may employ receivers adapted forv vertical movement only, dispensing with the oscillatory nism by which the receivers are oscillated may be dispensed with.

In the present instance, the receiversi arey shown'as ten 1n number, and for the sake of convenience, I.' have designated these recelvers as a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i and y. Each receiver may be made of any required height or capacity, dependent upon the character of sorting to be done. If the papers are to be sorted merely into groups, each receiver willA have a less 'number of compartments and each compartment of greater' capacity.-v

When checks and such papers are to be sorted according to serial number, each4 receiver will have, say, 1,000 compartments, each compartment, as will be readily understood, being designed to receive' one check.

In Fig. 2 I have broken away the side wall of one of-thesereceivers to show 'its compartments, but in this `view the height of each lcompartment is greatly exa gerated for the purpose of illustration. T e compartments (1n the present instance horizontally disposed) are formed by suitable shelves o rl partitions 31, as will be readily understood upon reference to'Fig. 2 and also to Fig. 3, in which parts are shown further enlarged. Each compartment is designed to receive its particular check as -it is guided thereinto through the guide 8, as will be'evident upon reference, to Fig. 3. In order that the checks, sales slips or other papers. may not be thrown outward as the receiversare moved, the shelves or bottoms of each compartment are inclined from the front rearward, as shown clearly inl Fig. 2. This inclination further assists in the checks, sales slips o r other papers being deposited into the rear portion of the compartments as they are fed thereinto through the guide 8 by the feed mechanism above described.4 Each shelf or'. partition 31 is, by preference, cut away `at one end, as seen at 32 in Fig. 4, to admit of easy removal of the checks .or other papers after they have been sorted into their various compartments.

When a plurality of receivers are employed, as shown in Fig. 1, they are arranged upon the arc of a circle and mounted to move in unison in ahorizontal plane, and

, each receiver also adapted to be moved vertically independently of the others. In the present instance I have chosen to sholvT these receivers as supported in the following manner z-33'is a transverse-.member'which supports the Aarc-shaped -member 34, from which rise a plurality of guiding members 35 in4 7'0 which each receiver is guided in its vertical movements in 4any suitableA manner, as, for instance, by guideplns 36, as seen bestin Fig. 1. The member 33 -is suitably braced by the angularly disposed member 37, see Fig. 1, which extends. to the vertical shaft 38, about `whichthe oscillating frame and the plurality of receivers oscillate in a manner soon toV be described.

Fast to the shaft 38 is a member 39 having tWo arms 40 and 41, the former having a recess or the `like 42, and the latter a similar recess 43, as seen clearly. in Figs. 1 and 7.

44 is a. transversely disposed rock shaft mounted i`n suitablebearings 45, as seen in Fig. 7, andrigid with this rock shaft upon opposite sides of its longitudinal center are the rocker arms 46 and 47, see Figs. 1, 2 and 7. IThese rocker arms carry at their free ends the upwardly extendin pi-ns 48 and 49,.as seen in Figs. 1, 2 an 7 which-are designed toengage in the recesses 42 and 43 of the arms 40 and 41 on the shaft 38 to rock the same and, consequently, oscillate the receivers.

Secured to the ends of the rock shaft 44 are the curved members 50 and 51, seen best in Figs. 1, 2 and 7, for 'a' purpose which will hereinafter appear.

52is a supporting member extending concentric with the members 50 and 51 'just dean upwardly extending notch or the like 55,

seenalso in Fig. 2, to permit of the necessary upward movement of the members 50 and v51. y

As seen in Figs. 1 and 2, I employ a plurality of master keys and for convenience in readily distinguishing thesame` as noted in the descriptionof'the operation of the device, I have designated these keys as a", bx, 0X., dx, cx, fx, gx, LX, X and jx, as seen in Fig. l.' Actuation of these master keys control the limit of movement of the receivers a to j. Each masterkey has its stem 56 mounted for vertical reciprocation through an opening in'the table or the like 57, see Fig/2, and

each master key is designed to bear upon and scribed, as seen in Figs. v1 and 2. This memengages beneath one or the other ofthe members 50 or 51, see Figs. 1 and 2, and intermediate its fulcrum and the point of `contact of the inner end of said lever 58 with the member 50 or 51, the lever 58 carries an upright pin 60 movable through an opening in the member 52, as seen best in Fig. 10, and itsy upper end 61 movable` master keys or receivers a, b etc., and theseV pins are to determine the amount of throw or movement of the receivers to the right` or the left. 64 is a pin or member extending from the center of the space between the receivers e and f, as seen in Fig. 1, which pin or member 64 is designed to Contact with the upwardly projected pin of the appropriate lever 58 to limit the movement of the carrier by which the different receivers are4 supported and with wfhich they move. y

65 and 66 are springs attached to opposite ends of the oscillatory carrier, as seen in Fig. 1, for returning the same to its normal or central position after the checks or other papers have been deposited within the receiver which has been moved in proper relation to the feeding device hereinbefore described and received its appropriate number of slips or checks or other papers.

67 is a spring for normally keeping the members 50 and 51 in their lowermost position. Although but one spring is seen in the drawing and that in Fig.'2, it is to be understood that there is a spring for each of the members 50 and 51.

On the shaft 20 is a fixed member 68 of a clutch and slidably mounted on said shaft is the movable member 69 of said clutch, as seen clearly in Figs. 1 and 5. Around the shaft between these two clutch members is a spring 70 tending to normally keep the clutch members separated. Between the hub 71 of the pulley 19 and the adjacent end of the clutch member 69 is an annular groove 72 in which are arranged the oppositely disposed pins 73 and 74 which join the adjacent .and overlapped ends of the links 7 5 and 76, as seen in Figs. 5 and 6. These links at their lower ends are pivotally connected, as at 77, with the laterally projecting lu or support 78 carried by the post or stan ard 79, as seen in Fig. 2. The upper ends of the links 7 5 are connected by the cross bar 80, as seen in Fig. 6, to which is pivotally or loosely connected, as at 81, one end of a bar 82, see Figs. 5 and 6, each bar extending downwardly in an inclined ction, as seen in Fig. 2, and near its front end ispivotally mounted, as at 83, on the post or standard 84 rising from the' base 1. The bar 82 extends beyond its pivot, as seen in Fig. 2, and terminates in an upward eX- tension 83", seen best in Fig. 2, and upon this upward extension bears a lever 84X, there being a lever for each of the keysnot the master keysbut keys which determine the vertical movement of the receivers now to be described. These keys are arranged in groups, as seen in Fig.`11, the keys of each group being numbered from 1 to 99, and, as seen in Fig. 1, there are ten of these groups. These keys 85 are each depressible independently of the other and each key with its member 84X is kept in its elevated position by means of a spring 86, one attachedto each member 84X and to the base-member 1, as seen best in Fig. 2. Each of these members 81X is Apivotally mounted, as at 87, see Figs. 2 and 9, and rigid therewith is a vertical member 88, the

upper end of which is pivotally connected,

as at 89, with a horizontally projectable pin 90, each pin being movable through its appropriate hole 91 in a plate or member 92, as seen in Fig. 9. These upright members 88 and their pins 90 are preferably inclosed within a suitable casing 93, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2.' The holes 91 are arranged in rows slightly inclined from the horizontal, as seen in Fig. 12, for an obvious purpose.

Referring to Fig. 2, 94 is a suitable source of electricity, from which extend the wires 95 and 96 which, in turn, are connected with the plates 98 and 97 respectively. Carried by the levers 84* are contact points 99 and 100, as seen in Fig. 2, for 'coperatipn with said plates 98 and 97, as will be hereinafter` set forth. The wire 95 connects through the motor 2 and the wire 101 with the said plate 97, as seen in Fig. 2.

In some instances, as hereinbef'ore su gested, I may construct a. machine in Whic the receivers a, b, etc., will be given vertical movement only, as, for instance, in a machine requiring but one receiver, or possibly more, and instead of giving vertical movement to this receiver by the means hereinbefore described, I may employ a foot-operated pedal 102, as seen in Fig. 2, pivotally connected, as at 103, with the lower end of the cord or other actuating member 23, so that by depression of the foot pedal 102 which is fulcrumed at 104 on some suitable support, as 105, the cord or ligament 23 will be pulled downward and the receiver raised. The receiver is designed to be returned to its normal position by gravity. n

With the parts constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the drawings, the operation, briefiy described, is as follows:

Assuming first that the device embodies it is stopped by/ the projecting pin. i receiver, in this instance, may be elevated in but one receiver, f, see Fig.; 2, and this designed to be .given merely vertical movement,

which movement may be given thereto by foot or other power, and this receiver provlded' with the requisite number of vcompartments, and the machine equipped with as`many keys, 85, as there are compartments 1n.the recelver, the masterkeys f", etc., not

being required, the checks or other papers are placed upon the table or support 7 ready to be fed to the machine. The operator looks at the number of the check, salesslip, or

other paper, and supposing it, for instance,

to` be No. 2, he depresses the key,85, of the -first bank or group of keys bearing the' numeral 2. TheI depression of this key depresses the corresponding lever 84 and by actuation of the member 88 throws the pin 90 corresponding to said key 2 through the proper opening 91 in the plate or member 92 and intofthe path of the receiver.` This pin serves to limit the upward movement of the receiver at -the properpoint to bring compartment 2 in proper position to receive the check or other paper as it is fed thereinto by the cam member 12 and the feed rolls .5 and 6 and the fguide 8. The receivermay be caused to move upward until it is stopped by its projecting pin, in a variety of ways. In the single machine where the receiver has vertical movement only, a very convenient way of raising the receiver is b v means of the foot pedal 102 shown in Fig. 2a. The depression ofthis foot pedal pulls downward upon the 4ligament 23connected with the end of said foot pedal and, consequently, pulls up on the other end of said ligament bringing the receiver upto the point where The any suitable way, as by the elevating lcage 30, shown, or by attachment of the ligament 23` directly tothe receiver. The receiver, beingelevated to the proper position, the topcheck or other paper is fed by any suitable means, automaticor hand, ontothe table 7, whereit is engaged by the cam member 12 which. as hereinbefore described,

is properly timed, and `thereby fed to and` between the feed rollers 5 and 6 which are constantly revolving" by connection with the motor hereinbefore described, and after'passing between the feed rollers the check is guided through the guide8 into the compartment 2 of the receiver. As soon as the check or other paper is fed into its proper compartment, pressure onv the key is re moved and the lever 84 is returned to its lnormal position upward lby means of its spring` 86 and this movement, consequently, withdraws the pm 90 inward out of the path r ,of the receiver, which latter, byreason of the removal of the pressure upon the foot pedal, falls by gravity to its normal or.low ermost position. It will be noted, howeverVT that if the next paper to be fed istfo bel fed to a compartment ofthe receiver necessitating that the latter be elevated to a greater height, the pressure upon the foot pedal 102 need not be removed but by continued pressurethe receiver is moved upward until itv strikes the next projected pin 90, where the receiver stops, and the motionsjust described .are repeated, lthe checkl being fed y into its proper compartment.

y The requisite motions may-be given to the receiver by electrically-operated or other means in lieu of the foot pedal andconnec#4 tions just described.

Now, supposingfthe next check or paper bore the number 102, the operation will be identically the same, except that the operator depresses the 'key 2 in the second group or nest of keys which will actuate the proper pin so as to stop the receiverv in its vertical movement at a point where the check will be fed into compartment102 thereof, and so on. If the check bear`the number 902, the operator has simply to depress the key No. 2 in the ninth group' or nest of keys and the check or other paper lwill be fed into com- 'partment 902 of the` receiver, which latter has been raised to such position as to be stopped by its appropriate pin. Fronrthis it ,willbe'seen that the machine is positive and accurate in its functions and that if the appropriate key is depressed the check or other paper cannot fail to be delivered into` give the required capacity to the compartment. When it is remembered that with ordinary bank checks and analogous papers, the paper is practically about 1/250 of an inch in thickness, it will be seen that one receiver can Y be provided yvith a numerous number of compartments and still not be unprohibitive in its height, and by making the receivers of exceedingly thin aluminum or other light material the weight thereof'will belbut very little.

lWhere more than one paper is to be fed to the one compartment, any suitable means may be employed at the receiving points to press down the front ends ot' the papersallready in the boX so as'to facilitate the entrance of the additional paper. All of these expedients are well known and could1 be readily applied to my device Aeither when it is in use,should such accessory be found depreviously projected.

sirable. o

While in the foregoing description I have referred to the stop members 90 as being laterally projected pins, it is to be understood that in the appended claims where I refer to stop members or the like I do not intend torestrict myself to this particular form of stop members, that is, the horizontal proj ecting pins, as pivoted means or means movF x ing in the arc of a circle, or any other mechanical equivalents may be vsubstituted for such pins 90 without in any way changing the character of the machine or the mode of operation or the function of .such stop members.

Having now described the operation of the machine with the single receiver and that adapted only for vertical movement, I will'=now describe the operationv of a machine embodying a plurality of receivers and those mounted for oscillatory movement in a horizontal plane, such machine being shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and the details thereof being shown in the other views with the exception of Fig. 2a, although .it is to be understood that the cross sectional view, Fig. 4, pertains to a receiver no .matter in which form of machine it may be employed, whether the receivers reciprocate in a straight line o rare oscillated, and that the group or nest of keys seen in Fig. 11 and the member 92 seen in Fig. 12 with its holes 91 are commonto all of the different forms of the machine. Y

Assuming that the parts seen in Fig. 1 are in normal position, the mode of operation is as follows: The operator observes the number of the check to be first fed to the machine, and supposin said check to bear the number 2 the master Frey is first depressed. The depression of this key depresses the outer end of the corresponding member 58 which, in turn, raises the member 51 and thus through the rock shaft 44 causes the member 47 to be thrown in the direction of the arrow in. Fig. 1 so that its`pin 49 will engage in the recess 43 of the rocking member 41 and rock the latter so asto throw the receivers as a whole in the direction ofthe arrow a in Fig. 1. This movement continues until the member 64 engages with the pin60 which has (been This brings the proper receiver, in this instance the receiver j, into central position and upon the bottom members of the elevating rack 30. When the receiver has reached the proper position, the operator presses upon the proper key 85 which depresses the appropriate member 84",

bringing the contacts 99 and 100 into o erative contact with the plates 98 and 9 as c `will be readily understood upon reference to Fig. 2, thus starting the motor 2, it being understood that the motor 3 is, by preference, in operation at all times When the motor 2 is started, it imparts motion to the eccentric wiper or member 12 and also by depression of the upwardl extending portion 83%` of themember 82 which, as will be understood upon reference to Fig. 2, is dement with the clutch member 68 on the shaft 20, and whensk these clutch members are thrown into operative engagement the shaft A20 will`be revolved by means of the belt 18 on the pulley 19 on said' shaft 20, as seen in Figs. 1 andl 2, and the drum 22 is revolved, winding up the ligament 23` thereupon until the receiver which has been engaged by the elevating rack 30 reaches such height as to engage the appropriate pin 90 which has been thrown out into the path of said receiver, by the depression of the unit key through the medium of the member 88 in the same manner'as above described in connection with the simplest form of the invention. The check or other paper is now fed in and carried along by the eccentric member 12 through the rollers 5 and 6 and through the guide 8 into the 'appropriate compartment of the receiver which is determined by the height of `such receiver. The pressure on the .keys is then removed when the parts are returned to their normal position by reason of the springs 86 acting on the members 84", the springs 67 acting on the members 50 and 51 andthe springs 62 on the pins 60, gravity returning the receiver to its normal lowermost position. Thepin 90 ist at the same time withdrawn so as not to project in the path of the receiver in its next movement, which latter is determined b v the pin which is projected by the depression of the next unit key. The receivers are returned to their normal position laterally by means of the springs 65 and 66.

loro

Now assuming that the master key 10 is depressed, the member 50 will be raised by the engagement of'the appropriate member 58 therewith and the elevation of this meme ber 50 rocks the shaft 44, moving the vertical member 107 in the direction of the arrow seen in Fig. 2, consequently moving the arin 46 in the direction of the arrow shown in connection therewithl in Fig. 2 until its pin 48 engages in the recess 42 of the arm 40 of the oscillating member 39 which is rocked to throw the receivers in the direction of. the arrow b seen in Fig. 1 until the member 64 engages with the pin 60 at the upper end of Fig. 1, when receiver a will be brought into the central position to be engaged by the elevating rack 30 and moved to its appropriate height, governed by the position of the pin 90 which is projected by the depression of the appropriate unit key.

Actuation of the appropriatemaster key projects the proper pin to limit the oscillatory movement' of the carrier so thatthe receiver corresponding to the master key operated will'bel sure to be brought'v into` central positionv in proper position for elevation by the elevating rack 30. v

When the member 84* is raised to its normal position, pressure on the member 106 is removed so that the longarm of the member 82 returns to its normal position, and the toggles 7 5 and 76 are thrown into their normal position, that seen in Fig. 5, separating the clutch members', leaving the drum 22 1n position to revolve freely, permitting the receiver to fall by gravityto4 its lowermost position. l l

Any suitable means may be provided to prevent the checks or other papers from falling out at the rear of the receivers. For

instance, a vertical pin as a seen in Figs.' 1

and 4, may be provided, dropped vertically through an opening in the top of the receiver and readily removed when it is desired to remove the fpapers from the com partments of the receiver. l

In Fig. 13 I have illustrated diagrammatically means for electrically performing the operations hereinbefore descrlbed in connection with Figal and 2.

In said Fig. '13, 5* and 6 are the feed rollers, 8n is the guide, 4* is the belt for operating the feed rollers, 9? is the belt for operating the eccentric member 12 on the shaft 11EL which also carries the belt pulley 10. Y

23a is the ligament for hoisting the elevator rack 30t1 and thereceivers; 22 is the drum on which the ligament 23"L is wound.

90Il designates one of the pins which in the present instance is in the form of a solenoid, 92 being the equivalent of the plate or member 92 seen in Figs. 1 and 2,

and this plate is composed preferablyof an inner and outer metallic member 92b and 92 and an intermediate` insulating plate 92d, there being lco-incide-nt holes through the three plates for the recept-ance and guidance of the pins 90a.

' the appropriate receiver in the appropriate position to be raised by'the elevator rack.V

109 designates oneof the master keys and 110 one of the runit keys, while 111 is a switch. 112 is a contact point to complete the circuit by depression of thefinaster key while 113 is a similar contact poiiit foriiomthe circuit and the appropriate pin 60 is pleting the circuit by depression of a unit key A1,10.

In operation, the steps and results are the same as when manipulated in the manner hereinbefore described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2. Briefly stated, it is asfollows: .l

When the master key 109 is depressed, its contact with the contact. point 112 completes raised t0 form a stop for the movement of the carrier .on which the receivers are mounted and the motor 108 is actuated 'to' -move the carrier to the right or left in accordance with the depression of the master key. Now .the appropriate unie key is depressed until 1t contacts with the contact pin 113, completing the circuit, when the'appropriate solenoid will be actuated to,proj ect its pin ,through the opening in the plate 92'L in position to-stop the vertical movement of the appropriate receiver, which vertical movement is now given to such receiver by actuation of the drum 22l and when the receiver is brought to its proper vertical position the check is fed into the appropriate compartment thereof in the same manner as above described in connection with the means, means operable with said selective 105 mechanism for limiting the movement of said receiver, and presenting a selected compartment in operative relation to a feeding station.

.2. In a sorting machine, a vertically bodily 110 movable receiver having a multiplicity of compartments, means for elevating the same, selective meansk coperating with and controlling said elevating means, and means coperable with the selective means and pro- 115 jectable into the path of the receiver and limiting its bodily movement.

3. 'In-a sortingmachine, a vertically bodily movable receiver having a plurality of compartments the walls of which are inclined downwardly from front .to rear, means for elevating said receiver#l selective means cooperating with and controlling said elevating means, Aand means coperating with the selective means and proj ectable into the path of the receiver and limiting its bodily movement. A

i 4. In a sorting machine, a vertically bodily movable receiver having a plurality of compartments the walls of which are inclined downwardly from front to rear, means for elevating sald recelver, selectlve means vcooperating with and controlling said elevat-4 ing means, means cooperating with the selective means and projectable into the path of the receiver and limiting its bodily movement, and means for preventing a displacement of the articles received within said compartments.

of thereceiver and limiting its bodily movement, and means for feeding papers one by one to the selected compartment.

6. Ina sorting machine, a bodily movably mounted receiver having a multiplicity ofcompartments, a nest of keys, selective mechanism controlled by said keys, meansl actuated bythe depression of the keys to limit the movement of said receiver, and means for feeding papers one by one to the selected compartment. l

V7. In a sorting machine, a bodily movably mounted receiver having a multiplicity of compartments, feeding means to feed papers one by one to a selected compartment, a nest of keys and means operable by the depression of a key to bring a selected compartment into coperative relation with said feeding/means, and means actuated by the depression of said keys and movable into the path of the receiver to limit its move- 8. In a sorting machine, a bodily movably mounted receiver', a nest of keys, means operable by the depression of a key to move said receiver, means operable by the depression of a key to bring a selected compartment of said receiver into predetermined position, means operable with said selected means and movable into the pathof the receiver to limit its movement, and means for returning said key and with-drawing the said limiting means.

. 9. In a sorting machine, a bodily vertically movable receiver, depressible key-operating means for elevating the same and bringing a selected compartment into predetermined position, a key-operated member and compartment-selecting means controlled thereby for projecting a member into the path of the receiver to limit its upward movement, and means for feeding'articles to the selected compartment one by one.

10. In a sorting machine, a bodily vertically movable receiver, depressible key-operated means for elevating the same, a keyoperated member, compartment-selecting means controlled thereby for projecting a ,reached its predetermined position.

member linto the path of the receiver to limit its upward movementI and means for` giving the receivermovement in a horizontal plane and means for feeding a paper to the receiver when it has reached its predetermined position.

11. In a sorting machine, a bodily vertically movablereceiver, a depressible compartment-selecting key, means actuated by said key to determine the amount of movement of the receiver, means actuated by said key for elevating the receiver, and means lfor feeding articles to said receiver whenit reaches its predetermined position.

12. In a sorting machine, a bodily vertically movable receiver, a depressible key, means actuated by said key to determine the amount of movement of the receiver, means actuated by said key for elevating the receiver to bring a selected compartment into predetermined position, a feeding device, and means for actuating the latter by the depression of the key. 'Y \l 13. In a sorting machine, avvertically movable receiver, a depressible key, means actu- 90 ated by said key to determine the amount of movement of the receiver, means for elevvating the receiver to bring a selected compartment into predetermined position, a

feeding device for feeding articles one by one to a selected compartment, means for actuating the latter by the depression of the key, and means for oscillating the receiver in a horizontal plane. f

14. In a sorting machine, a bodily vertically movable receiver, means connected therewith for elevating the same, a depressible key controlling said means, a projectable member actuated by the key to limit the movement of the receiver to bring a selected compartment into predetermined position, and means for giving'movement in a horizontal plane to said receiver and means for feeding a paper to the receiver whenit has 11o 15. In a sorting machine, a bodily vertically movable receiver, means connected therewith for elevating the same, a depressible key controlling said means, a projectable member actuated by the key to limit the 11b movement of the receiver to bring a selected compartment into predetermined position, means for giving movement in a horizontal plane to said receiver, and a feeding device operable by the Adepression of the key to 12o feed articles one by one to a selected compartment. 1 y

16. In a sorting machine, positive feeding means and a receiver having a multiplicity of compartments and mounted for bodily 125 feeding means.

17. In afsortingmachine, positive feeding means and a receiver having a multi licity .of compartments and mounted for` odily oscillatory movement and for bodily vertical movement to brin only a .selected one.of

said multiplicity o compl i'tments into pre-- determined position wit relation to said feedin means.

. 18. a sorting machine, a bodily mov` able receiver mounted for horizontal oscillatory movement, meansA controlleda by the depression of a key for giving oscillatory movement to saidrec'eiver, and means controlled b` the depression of the key to ele-' vate sai receiver to bring a `selected compartment thereof into predetermined vertical position.

19. In a sorting controlled by the depression of a key to determine the amount Iof movementof said receiver, said receiver being mounted also for vertical movement.

Q 20. In a sorting machine, -a receiver `neous, movement and each having a plurality of compartments and mounted .for oscillatory movement, and means for elevating .any one of said receivers independently of the others to bring a single` selected compartment of said receiver into predetermined position. i

22. In a sorting machine, a multiplicity of receivers connected together for simultaneous movement andeach having a plurality of compartments, means for moving all of said receiversl simultaneously in a horizontal plane, and means forbodily moving any one of said receivers vertically to bring a single selected compartment thereof into predetermined position.

23. Ina sorting machine, a multiplicity of receivers connected together for simultaneous movement and each having a plurality of compartments, meansl for moving hthem simultaneously in a horizontal plane, means for moving a selected receiver vertically to bring a single selected compartment thereof yinto predetermined po'sition, and means for vdetermining the amount of movement thereof.

24. In a sorting machine, a multiplicity yof receivers connected together for simultai neous movement and each having a plurality of compartments, means for moving said rs Simultaneously in a horizontal ,means for automatically determining machine, a .receiver mounted for oscillatory movement, means the amount of movement thereof, and elevating means for movingany one of said receivers bodily vertically independently of vthe others vto brin a single selected" compartmentthereof into predetermined position.

25. In a sorting machine, a multiplicity of' receivers each having a plurality of compartments, means for giving them oscillatory movement in unison, means for automatically determining the oscillatory movement, means for elevating any one of said receivers bodily independently of the others to ybring'a single selected compartment thereof into predetermined position, and means for determining the amount of vertical movement of such receiver.

'26. In a sorting machine, -a multiplicity of receivers, means for movin them in a horizontal plane, key-controlle means for limiting the horizontal movement of said receivers, and' key-controlled means for limiting the vertical movement of any one of said receivers. I 27 In a sorting machine, a' multiplicity of receivers,`means for moving them in a horizontal plane.1 keV-controlled means for limit-l ing the horizontal movement of said receivers, key-.controlled lmeans for limiting the vertical movement of any one of said receivers, and means for elevating the selected receiver. i

. 28. In a sorting machine, aplurality of receivers movable together in horizontal planes and singly in verticalplanes and each having ya plurality of compartments, positive feeding means, and selectingy mechanism for bringing the desired lreceiver into position for any one selected compartment only thereof to present said one compartment only to the feeding means to receive-a check.

29. In a sorting machine, a .plurality of receivers movable together in a horizontal plane,-selecting mechanism for bringing the -desired 'receiver into position to receive a check, and ,means for elevating the selected receiver. f

l 30. Ina sorting machine, a plurality of receivers movable together in afhorizontal plane, selecting mechanism for bringing the desired receiver intoy position to receive a check, means for elevating the selected receiver, and key-controlled means for determining the vertical movement 'of said receiver.

-`31. In a sortingI machine, a multiplicity of receivers, means for giving them oscillatory movement in a horizontal plane, selective mechanism for bringingthe desired receiver into position to receive a check, said receivers beinginovable vertically, and keyoperated means for elevating Vthe selected receiver.

32. In' a `sorting machineya multiplicity of receivers, means'for giving them' oscil-l latory movement in a horizontal plane, selective mechanism for bringing the desired receiver into position to receive a check, said receivers being movable vertically, keyoperated means for elevating the selected receiver, and key-operated means for determining the vertical movement of such receiver. i

33. In a sorting machine, a multiplicity of receivers each having a multiplicity of compartments and bodily movable together in a horizontal plane, selective mechanism therefor, means for bodily elevating the selected receiver to bring a single selected compartment thereof into predetermined position, and a coperative feed device to feed articles to suchI single selected compartment one by one.

34. In a sorting machine,'a multiplicity of receivers each having a multiplicity of compartments and bodily movable together in a horizontalplane, selective mechanism therefor, means for bodily elevating the selected receiver to bring a 'single selected compartment thereof into predetermined position, a coperative feed device to feed articles to such single selected compartment one by one, and means for automatically determining the amount of movement of the receiver in a vertical direction.

35. In a sorting machine, a multiplicity of receivers, means for oscillating them together in a horizontal plane, selective mechanism, a cooperative feed mechanism,` and key-controlled means for raising the selected receiver.

`36. In a sorting machine, a multiplicity `of receivers, means for oscillating them together in a horizontal lane,'selective mechanism, a coperative eed mechanism, keycontrolled means for raising the selected receiver, and key-controlled means for limiting the vertical movement of the receiver.

37. In a sorting machine, a plurality of receivers, means for oscillating them in a horizontal plane, selective mechanism, keycontrolled elevating mechanism for' the selected receiver, key-controlled projectable means for limiting the vertical movement of the lselected receiver, and means for feeding a paper to the selected receiver.

38. In a sorting machine, a plurality of receivers mounted for oscillatory movement in a horizontal plane and for independent vertical movement, a master key and connections for selecting any desired receiver and means for elevating such selected receiver.

39. In a sorting machine, a plurality of receivers molmted for oscillatory movement in a horizontal plane `and for independent vertical movement, a master key, connections for selectin any desired receiver and means for elevating such selected receiver, and means for determining the vertical movement of said receiver.

40. In a sorting machine, a plurality of receivers mounted for oscillatory movement in a horizontal plane and for independent vertical movement, a master key and connections for selectingany desired receiver, means for elevating such selected receiver, means for determining the vertical movement of, said receiver, and key-controlled meansY for said elevating means.

41. In a sorting machine, a plurality of receivers each with a multiplicity of compartments, saidreceivers being mounted for horizontal movement in unison and any one of said receivers mounted for independent bodily vertical movement, means for moving said receivers horizontally and determining the amount of movement thereof, and` means cooperating therewith to give verticalvmovement to a selected receiver and to limit its vertical movement. v

In testimony whereof I alli);` my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE W. COX, JR.

Witnees:

CLAUDE R. BRENEMAN, J. E. GILEs. 

